Big wheel keep on turnin'.........

In fact it doesn't! It hasn't turned for years.

This is the overflow valve control wheel at our Cherry Tree water. Originally turning the wheel raised a door in the side of the lake which allowed the water to drain along a pipe to another of our ponds about 100 metres away. It was replaced years ago by a wheel house cut into the bank behind where I was standing for this shot.

Up earlyish this morning (6.30) to be greeted by fog. By the time we arrived here the fog had lifted a bit and there was just a bit of mist hanging around. No disputes about who was fishing where as it was purely a pleasure day. Got myself settled, gear set up, ready to start..............and the Sun broke through the mist.
Lovely.

Fishing was slow but it was warm(ish) and peaceful. After about an hour I noticed that Shaun on the far bank was looking a bit fainter than he had been. Looking to my right I was amazed to see fog rolling over the top of the banking and spreading across the far side of the lake. Within about 10 minutes Shaun, Tom and Roy had vanished totally and Sam, Gordon and Charlie were rapidly going the same way. Ten minutes later Colin and I might as well have been the only two there, in fact the others could have packed up and gone home and we wouldn't have noticed, the fog was that thick, and the pond is less than 40m across. Talk about local weather phenomena.

Of course the joking started, with fog horn sounds, and quotes from films like "The Fog" and "Titanic" and other nautical gags. Just about 10.55 the fog rolled away to reveal that the Sun was behind a cloud bank and the temperature had dropped by about 8 degrees.

At 11.00, we all stood for two minutes silence and the fish obliged by not biting. As it got colder the fishing died off and at 1.30 we all called it a day (Sunday I think!).

Back home to a bit of bad news about my sister...her condition is worse than we thought and her treatment is to be more aggressive and starts this coming Friday. I can't go and see her either because I need a flu vaccination first as she needs to avoid any risk of infection. I've probably said more than I should about her, but I feel that you're all such supportive people that it's ok to keep you informed of what's going on.

I'll speak to the Boss(work) tomorrow, I might need some time off as Dad is also waiting for an op on his Carpal Tunnel problem, but it might pan out so that I can get up to see them both at weekends.

I tell you, after Mum passing last year and now this I'll be glad to see 2011, it can't be any worse than 2009 and 2010 have been, apart from finding Blipfoto of course.

Das vidanya and Nasdrovya.